Humble Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $1,500 in Rear-End Crash
One driver was stopped at a yield sign when another driver rear-ended their vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed injuries including a concussion and vertigo. The other driver denied negligence, stating they did not see the stopped vehicle in time. The jury found the rear-ending driver negligent and awarded damages for medical bills.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Head/Brain Injury Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) range from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI, with effects ranging from temporary symptoms to permanent cognitive impairment.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $1,500
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Head/Brain Injury
- Accident Type
- Rear-end
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $1,500 is below the median of $1,893,000 for head/brain injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $93,169 to $9,140,000, based on 45 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On January 31, 2014, a vehicle occupied by a caregiver and her special needs daughter was rear-ended in Humble, Texas. The plaintiffs were stopped at a yield sign on the U.S. 59 feeder road, waiting to merge onto Will Clayton Parkway, when a defendant struck their vehicle from behind. The plaintiffs subsequently filed a lawsuit, alleging the defendant's negligence in failing to maintain a proper lookout.
The plaintiffs claimed the collision caused various injuries, including a concussion, post-concussion syndrome, and vestibular ocular reflex disorder for the driver, and neck and back pain for the daughter. The driver underwent several months of treatment, including neurology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, and occupational therapy, and sought $12,774 for past medical expenses, along with damages for pain, anguish, and impairment. The daughter and the driver's husband also sought damages for loss of consortium. The defendant denied negligence, asserting the incident was an accident. The defendant argued that the plaintiffs had stopped twice while merging and that the defendant, looking for traffic, did not see them stop a second time. Defense counsel also introduced photographs showing minor damage to both vehicles.
Following a two-day trial, the jury deliberated for one hour. The jury found the defendant negligent. However, it awarded the driver only $1,500 for medical bills and no other damages to any of the plaintiffs. The defense had suggested awarding only $996 for the driver's initial emergency clinic visit if damages were to be found, while the plaintiffs had sought a total of $88,774 for the driver and additional amounts for the other plaintiffs.
Understanding This Case
- Most mild TBIs resolve within weeks to months. Moderate to severe TBI often results in permanent impairment affecting cognition, behavior, and physical function.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome significantly deviates from similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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